IMO supports piracy prevention implementation in west, central Africa
THE UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has pledged its support to assist in the implementation of a new Code of Conduct concerning the prevention and repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in west Africa.
This initiative mirrors the 2009 Djibouti Code of Conduct dealing with piracy off the coast of Somalia and Indian Ocean, which 20 states signed.
The new west African code was adopted at a ministerial meeting in Cotonou, Benin. It will be opened for signature at the meeting of the heads of state and government of Central and West African states, which is to be held in Yaounde, Cameroon in May 2013.
"We look forward to continuing to work with the countries to assist in the implementation of this new code," said IMO secretary-general Koji Sekimizu.
The code was developed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolutions 2018(2011) and 2039(2012). It aims to tackle the threat that piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea pose to international navigation, security and the economic development of the states in the region, an IMO statement said.
These resolutions encouraged ECOWAS-ECCAS member states, and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) to develop a comprehensive regional strategy and framework to counter piracy and armed robbery, including information sharing and operational coordination mechanisms in the region, and to build on existing initiatives, such as those under the IMO.
The United Nations' IMO has assisted ECOWAS in the drafting of the code, which incorporates many elements of the IMO-developed Djibouti Code of Conduct, signed by 20 states in the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden area, as well as provisions from the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a sub-regional integrated coast guard function network in West and Central Africa, developed in 2008 by the IMO and the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA).
The IMO is also supporting the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and the Government of Ghana to develop the Maritime Trade Information Sharing Centre (MTISC) in Ghana. Following its successful operational trial during a recent naval exercise, it is intended that the MTISC will become operational as soon as possible. It is intended that the MTISC will receive and promulgate information from and to merchant shipping operating in the area in order to assist them to develop situational awareness.
THE UN's International Maritime Organisation (IMO) has pledged its support to assist in the implementation of a new Code of Conduct concerning the prevention and repression of piracy, armed robbery against ships and illicit maritime activity in west Africa.
This initiative mirrors the 2009 Djibouti Code of Conduct dealing with piracy off the coast of Somalia and Indian Ocean, which 20 states signed.
The new west African code was adopted at a ministerial meeting in Cotonou, Benin. It will be opened for signature at the meeting of the heads of state and government of Central and West African states, which is to be held in Yaounde, Cameroon in May 2013.
"We look forward to continuing to work with the countries to assist in the implementation of this new code," said IMO secretary-general Koji Sekimizu.
The code was developed by the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the Economic Community of Central African States (ECCAS), pursuant to United Nations Security Council resolutions 2018(2011) and 2039(2012). It aims to tackle the threat that piracy and armed robbery at sea in the Gulf of Guinea pose to international navigation, security and the economic development of the states in the region, an IMO statement said.
These resolutions encouraged ECOWAS-ECCAS member states, and the Gulf of Guinea Commission (GGC) to develop a comprehensive regional strategy and framework to counter piracy and armed robbery, including information sharing and operational coordination mechanisms in the region, and to build on existing initiatives, such as those under the IMO.
The United Nations' IMO has assisted ECOWAS in the drafting of the code, which incorporates many elements of the IMO-developed Djibouti Code of Conduct, signed by 20 states in the western Indian Ocean and Gulf of Aden area, as well as provisions from the existing Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish a sub-regional integrated coast guard function network in West and Central Africa, developed in 2008 by the IMO and the Maritime Organisation of West and Central Africa (MOWCA).
The IMO is also supporting the Oil Companies International Marine Forum (OCIMF) and the Government of Ghana to develop the Maritime Trade Information Sharing Centre (MTISC) in Ghana. Following its successful operational trial during a recent naval exercise, it is intended that the MTISC will become operational as soon as possible. It is intended that the MTISC will receive and promulgate information from and to merchant shipping operating in the area in order to assist them to develop situational awareness.